Clinical Information

Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a member of the Herpesviridae family. These viruses contain DNA surrounded by a lipid envelope. Among members of this group, this virus is most closely related to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and HHV-7. As with other members of the herpesvirus group (herpes simplex virus [HSV] 1, HSV 2, varicella-zoster virus, CMV, Epstein-Barr virus, HHV-7, HHV-8), HHV-6 may cause primary and reactivated infections subsequent to latent association with cells.(1) Infection with HHV-6 occurs early in childhood. Most adults (80%-90%) have been infected with this virus.

HHV-6 was first linked with exanthem subitum (roseola infantum) in 1998; since then, the virus has been associated with central nervous system disease almost exclusively in patients who are immunocompromised.(1) HHV-6 is commonly detected in patients posttransplantation. Clinical symptoms associated with this viral infection include febrile illness, pneumonitis, hepatitis, encephalitis, and bone marrow suppression. However, the majority of HHV-6 infections are asymptomatic.(2) The incidence of HHV-7 infection and its clinical manifestations posttransplantation are less well characterized.

HHV-6 is designated as variant A (HHV-6A) or variant B (HH6-B) depending on restriction enzyme digestion patterns and its reaction with monoclonal antibodies. Generally, variant B has been associated with exanthem subitum, whereas variant A has been found in many immunosuppressed patients.(3)